BlackRock to build out its alternatives platform, opportunities grow from prop trading restrictions at banks

Opalesque Industry Update – “Our alternative platform has to grow and has to become a larger part of our business,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Laurence D. Fink during a call with analysts on Wednesday. While the firm’s business grew by 9% over the third quarter of 2010, BlackRock’s alternatives business saw a setback with outflows of $1.0bn (mainly in real estate, hedge funds and fund of funds).

During Wednesday’s call Fink talked more about the alternatives products than he typically does on quarterly reporting calls, with multiple references to building out the firm’s alternatives platforms. “Our whole view on alternatives is that we need to show our investors and our clients that we have more than just a few products,” he said. “We are going to have ten or twelve key products in equities, fixed income and global macro.”

BlackRock inflows into alternatives were also disappointing, but Fink believes that performance in the third quarter (he specifically noted strong performance from equities and global macro hedge funds) will result in higher inflows in 2011.